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Paula's Choice vs MAC

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Paula's Choice and MAC are established beauty brands offering thoughtful skincare ranges for daily maintenance. The American line, founded in 1995, features serums, cleansers, moisturizers, toners, and more built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c, suiting oily and combination skin best. Conversely, the Canadian brand established in 1984 is beloved for reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from carefully balanced formulas that suit balanced skin best. While both provide targeted solutions for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin, they differ in their foundational ingredients and ideal skin types.

Paula's Choice is an American skincare brand founded in 1995 and owned by Unilever since 2021.

unilever.comtracxn.com

MAC is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

elcompanies.comen.wikipedia.org

This page compares some of the most popular Paula's Choice and MAC products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Paula's Choice vs MAC products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceMAC
  • Hydration and Moisture Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Absorbs in a snap — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Leaves skin feeling soft and supple, never tight. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
  • Skin Texture Improvement Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “skin is insanely soft — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “skin never been this silky — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “petal-soft skin — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Lightweight Formula Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue behind. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”
    • “absorbs instantly — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “watery consistency — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “Emulsifies beautifully and rinses off without a greasy film. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Makeup Primer and Base Benefits Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Sits beautifully under makeup — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Reduces appearance of pores — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • Gentle and Non-irritating Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Finally a vitamin C product I can use — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “no stinging — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “Does not cause breakouts — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Doesn't sting my eyes or blur my vision. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Radiance and Brightening Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “Discoloration almost gone — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “lit-from-within look — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Price and Value Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “Sooooo expensive — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “expensive for body lotion — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Unpleasant Scent Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “smells like hot dog water — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “scent is overpowering — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Has a scent that might irritate very sensitive noses. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Skin Irritation and Breakouts Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “caused acne — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Breaks me out, I got pimples from this. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “Stings if it accidentally gets into the eyes. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “skin purged — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or MAC: which is better?

Paula's Choice is better for improving skin texture and lightweight formulas, whereas MAC is better for makeup primers and bases, as well as hydration and moisture. Paula's Choice also tends to be gentler since every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, while MAC products on this page all contain fragrance.

What is the difference between Paula's Choice and MAC?

Paula's Choice focuses on targeted skin texture improvement with fragrance-free formulas, while MAC emphasizes hydration and makeup primer benefits with scented products. Lovi rates Paula's Choice best for oily, combination, and acne-prone skin.

Paula's Choice or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

For moisturizers, Paula's Choice is better because the products on this page have no fragrance, whereas all MAC moisturizers on this page contain fragrance. Lovi rates the Paula's Choice Clinical Ceramide-Enriched Firming Moisturizer and Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer as having high to average fits across skin types, helping provide hydration.

Which is more affordable, Paula's Choice or MAC?

Reviewers frequently note a high price for both brands, so neither stands out as more affordable.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Paula's Choice or MAC?

Paula's Choice is better for avoiding breakouts, as skin irritation and breakouts are a known issue with MAC products on this page.

Which brand has more products that are fragrance-free, Paula's Choice or MAC?

Paula's Choice has more products that are fragrance-free, as every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In contrast, none of the products on the MAC page are fragrance-free.

Which brand offers better results for skin texture improvement, Paula's Choice or MAC?

Paula's Choice does better for skin texture improvement. The products on this page help with skin texture, whereas MAC has strong fragrance and sensitivity issues.

When was Paula's Choice founded and who owns it compared to MAC?

Paula's Choice was founded in the United States in 1995 and has been owned by Unilever since 2021. In comparison, MAC was founded in Canada in 1984 and has been owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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